Chapter Text
Everyone inwardly groaned as Lord Stingray explained his newest plan to escape the high-security prison. The others stopped indulging in his escape ideas since at least one of them got hurt on multiple occasions.
Paul had stated before that perhaps Stingray should try to befriend the Warden, gain his trust again so that it’d be easier to go behind his back. Ash stuck with just being his friend. Nicky suggested manipulation, and Turbie agreed with him. Gary just stared, being his usual unsettling self. Jean just told Stingray to kill him, which earned him an elbow from his husband.
Stingray, being his egotistical self, stuck with his original plan and thought of his idea as superior.
So that’s how he found himself in Superjail’s park, waiting for a few people to leave. He was leaning back on a bench with his arm draped behind it; his other was on the armrest, his claw tapping the edge of it.
The sun was shining, and the warmth of it made Stingray doze off, staring at nothing in particular.
Then he heard his name quietly being called, startling him a bit. He glared up at who was addressing him, and it turned out to be the new counselor of Superjail, Ellen, who happened to know him from before.
She, of course, was holding her clipboard, probably having finished with a session with an inmate. Her green, downturned eyes looked at him quizzically.
“Where’s the brute?” He grunted. Ellen lowered her eyelids and sighed, “Alice had been called out as soon as the session was over.”
Alice accompanies Ellen for her sessions. She sits slightly out of earshot but not too far off that she wouldn’t be able to hear Ellen if she was in trouble. It made Stingray mad; Ellen has a heart too big for her own good and can easily be taken advantage of. He, of course, would never admit it aloud.
Ellen smoothed out the back of her long skirt and sat beside him. Stingray closed his eyes as she began talking.
“Can’t imagine this park as a part of Superjail. Quite strange, really. Almost peaceful.” Stingray huffed, “It shouldn’t exist.”
“But it does. I’m glad it does because it’s very therapeutic.”
Stingray opened one eye to glare at her again, “No.”
Ellen smiled softly, “Why are you here, then? I can’t assume you’re here for the scenery.”
“That’s why it’s an assumption.” He turned his head slightly to look at her.
She turned her head to look at her friend as well, “Waiting for someone, perhaps?” He rolled his eyes and sunk further onto the bench, “You’re nosy for someone so quiet.” She tilted her head slightly, then turned to look ahead of her. “I am a therapist.” Stingray smiled at her sarcastically, and she looked over from the corner of her eye and hummed.
Ellen looked down at her clipboard and stood up, “Well, it always is such a pleasure to see you, but I have to go,” she gave Stingray a thumbs up, “and do paperwork!” he shot her a condescending smile, and she turned and walked off.
Ellen was there long before Lord Stingray, well...became Lord Stingray. One day she disappeared, and after that day, he donned the persona of this—with other outlying sources, of course. So it’s a big coincidence that they reunite in this hellhole.
Apparently, she was picked up and lived her years off in an isolated space, but once she turned 17, she ran off and somehow went to school to become a counselor. That’s all Stingray knew, or all she would tell him; she didn’t seem comfortable with talking about what happened in that vast gap from then to now.
It’s been a few months since she began to work in Superjail, and Lord Stingray is amazed that she’s still alive. Ellen is very naïve and oblivious—innocent if you will—but she somehow is doing great.
“That doesn’t make any sense, Jared .”
Stingray perked up, hearing that annoying, criticizing voice. He began to scratch on the bench’s metal as the accountant stuttered his explanations, which almost sounded like pleas.
“Sir, they are growing suspicious and are threatening to send in their men if we don’t agree to a visit!”
The Warden chirped, “That sounds like a ‘you’ problem.”
“S-sir!” Jared sounded both angry and panicked, “It’s going to be a Superjail problem if we don’t contact them soon with an answer!”
Stingray tilted his head slightly so that he could watch the pair go on about whatever was causing Jared to go more ballistic than usual.
“I still don’t even understand why the ‘government’ is suddenly so interested in my jail. I mean, who wouldn’t be, right? It’s pretty great.”
The government? Stingray thought about his original escape plan, but maybe he could consider a new one. Damn it all; he might end up considering Paul’s idea.
No, he’ll make it his own.
He waited as the jailor was in his direct eyesight before he got up.
“Wouldn’t you expect people to start questioning where the flying robot and a criminal are headed to?! Jailbot has killed many citizens in his pursuit for Jackknife! The CIA is beginning to look closely at-” Jared abruptly stopped mid-rant, looking up at the inmate that was now standing behind the Warden.
Warden opened his mouth to mock his accountant but realized he was looking at something specific. He turned around and slightly flinched once he saw who it was. His eyebrows furrowed, and his blue eyes narrowed. “What?” The Warden bluntly addressed Stingray.
The taller man smiled down at him sinisterly, “I couldn’t help but overhear your...predicament. As you know, I’ve dealt with the government befo-”
“Uh, yeah, uh-huh. You’re not helping. You’re expecting something out of this if you help, and I am NOT doing that. No way.” Warden quickly shut him down, and Stingray had to bite his tongue to keep his temper in check. “Well, don’t you think I’d know what to do in a situation like this?”
The Warden looked as if he was considering for a second but quickly dismissed the idea, “Sure, but all you do is run. Kind of like a coward.”
Jared snickered under into his hand as Warden gave Stingray a smug and satisfied look. Stingray gritted his teeth and stepped closer to the purple-suited man so that he was hovering over him. “Do I?”
The jailor felt the slightest bit of heat rise to his face, “Y-yep.” He mentally cursed at himself for stuttering. Lord Stingray glared at him a moment more, shrugging as he smiled at the Warden and stepped back. “You know where to find me if you become desperate.”
The Warden rambled incoherently as Stingray sauntered off. Knowing how gullible and ignorant the Warden was, Lord Stingray felt reasonably confident he’d be hearing from him sometime soon.